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Sunday, 23 October 2011

Meet The Young Apprentice Hopefuls

Monday sees the return of Sir Alan Sugar in a brand new series of The Young Apprentice. The series launched as “The Junior Apprentice” last summer and we’re not entirely sure why there’s been a name change. Maybe someone at the BBC thought Junior sounded like nursery age kids would be competing to win but then doesn’t Young seem quite young too? Perhaps a better title would’ve been The Apprentices that haven’t been tainted by the business world yet edition though I admit that’s a little wordy.

Whatever the title and whatever the age of the contestant the premise stays the same. Six Boys and six Girls all aged under 17 compete to be mentored by Sir Alan Sugar. I’ll admit that when The Junior Apprentice debuted last year I was skeptical the series would work but if truth be told the younger contestants often prove to be more self aware and more savvy than the those who embarrasses themselves every year on the original series.

Young Apprentice doesn’t excite me as much as the normal series does but to be honest I’m just happy to have the Apprentice back on our screens and await the cringeworthy moments its destine to bring us.

Let's meet this year's hopefuls.

Ben Fowler

16 Year old Ben Fowler (no relation to Pauline) is studying for Business Diploma

and is a keen horticulturalist having taken on his own allotment at a young age. In the future he hopes to help those with learning and behavioural problems study horticulture and agriculture. He says: "I am an ordinary lad who wants to do the best not just for myself but for everyone."
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Harry Hitchens

16 Year old Harry Hitchens lives in Brighton and is studying for the International Baccalaureate. Harry has been working since he was nine, with jobs including gardening, selling at car boot sales and magazine delivery. He wishes he had invented the Cat's Eye road marker. He says: "I aim high. I don't aim low ever, what are you ever going to gain from that? I aim high and I get there because of that determination, because I'm pretty ruthless in how I get there."

Harry Maxwell

Harry Maxwell from Oxford is studying for for Pre-Us in Maths and Further Maths and A Levels in Geography and Economics and the Extended Project. He is a talented pianist and singer and counts Simon Cowell as one of his inspirations. Starting his first business when he was 10, selling tickets on the internet, he has already started three successful businesses, encompassing travel, marketing, property and cosmetics. Harry says: "In terms of my intellect, self-motivation, confidence, and business instinct for my age, I am unrivalled. I have a pure entrepreneurial gift waiting to be unleashed and harnessed."

17yr old James

17 year old James McCullagh describes himself as a risk-taker and always follows his gut instinct. James got the joint highest score in GCSE Economics in Northern Ireland and feels he is a natural businessman. He is a massive football fan and lists his passion as economics. James says: "I have integrity, but when winning gets in the way of integrity, integrity goes out the window."

Lewis

16 Year Old Lewis Roman's first foray into the business world was as an assistant stylist at a hair salon. A keen shopper and gym buff, Lewis now works in the food industry and hopes to change the world of business forever Lewis says:" I'm not arrogant or backstabbing, I'm just a really great guy."

Mahamed

Studying for A Levels in Politics, Law, Economics and Psychology, 16 year old Mahamed Awale is a keen inventor. Youth Parliament Representative for his borough, has already made money buying and selling TV satellites. Inspired by the Microsoft and Facebook brands, he hopes to bring about "monumental change" using politics and youth outreach schemes. He says: "I have so many abilities and so many talents. I want to prove what an entrepreneurial person I am."

Elizabeth "Lizzie"

At 16 Liverpudlian Elizabeth Magee is already a Published author and rounders champion. She now has her own business designing personalised guitar straps and also breeds Jack Russell Terriers. She says: "I'm very, very determined and if I know how to get something I will get it."

Gbemi

16 year old Award-winning fashion designer Gbemi Okunlola has already started her own clothing line and is involved in both designing and making the clothes. Listing Louis Vuitton as her inspiration, Gbemi describes herself as a "diva" and feels her strength is that she always works to her full potential

Hannah

Keen footballer and studiying for studying for A Levels in Government and Politics, History Economics, Philosophy and Ethics Hannah Richards has made money reselling vintage clothes and creating school leavers' hoodies. She says: "I want to show that you can succeed in the business field, without relying on numerous qualifications. The right mind and attitude is ultimately a much more important quality than 12 A*s"

Haya

Born in Iraq, 16 year old Haya Al Dlame moved to England with her family at the age of 6. A self-proclaimed bossy-boots who is determined to succeed in business, she is also a keen eBay trader and wishes she was the brains behind MAC cosmetics. She is currently studying for A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Biology and an Extended Project. Haya says: "I have a big ego... I want to be known as Haya Al Dlame, the next deserving winner of Young Apprentice."

Hayley

16 year old Shrewsbury native Hayley Forrester is a farmer's daughter and member of Young Farmers, she passionately disagrees with people claiming benefits when they could be working. Inspired by drinks company Innocent, she sells free-range organic eggs from her own chickens. She is studying for A Levels in Biology, Maths, Business & Economics and ICT. She says:"I wear wellies, and I am not afraid to muck in"

Zara

The final hopeful is 16 year old Theatre Studies student Zara Brownless. Film enthusiast Zara used to be a baby model and won a sock design competition when she was seven years old. She is inspired by Katherine Bigelow, the first female director to win an Oscar, and currently produces films for charities. When she's not making movies, Zara enjoys running and playing table tennis. Zara says: "Dreamers dream; people who achieve wake up, get out there and start doing stuff to make their dreams happen."